Graduate teachers and experienced teachers face a competitive CRT environment, especially if their intention is to progress onto extended contractual work and ongoing permanent employment. The latest figures note approximately 27,000 teachers seek employment on a weekly basis. Tertiary institutions and course providers are not informing or adequately preparing prospective teacher graduates about the realistic teacher job environment when seeking employment after graduating from teacher courses. Most graduates are not provided with training concerning completing selection criteria as specified for individual school applications or preparing for the interview process. Tertiary institutions and teaching personnel in most cases do not emphasise the critical component of steps to take in order to successfully obtain CRT employment. Graduates are unaware of how recruitment agency practices differ from teacher referral agencies. Casual Relief Teachers Online provides teachers with information at: http://www.casualreliefteachers.com.au/jobs-info-agencies-resources/

The process of networking is rarely emphasised and the critical points of how to network successfully is not covered or taught in the course program. Networking knowledge and skills are assumed to be in a separate category, left upon the individual undergraduate teacher to learn by trial and error, rather than information being covered in the course curriculum and information directly delivered by course providers. This situation has caused confusion, distress, anxiety and disappointment to thousands of teacher graduates expecting to gain teacher employment within weeks of graduating from their teacher training course. There are many reasons why the casual relief teaching (CRT) jobs environment is competitive. Further information can be obtained from www.CasualReliefTeacers.com.au

The majority of graduates are new to the teaching profession; therefore have no contacts within schools, especially with key management personnel like principals and daily organisers. In the majority of cases, initial contact must be made face to face. Schools rarely employ teachers they have not met or introduced by networking through teaching staff already employed within the school. In order to network efficiently and effectively new teachers need to be introduced to key management personnel and establish an awareness of the school’s curriculum and school charter requirements. Basically, if new teachers do not make an effort to contact the school and make an appointment to meet the principal or daily organiser, chances are minimal of obtaining employment.

Emergency Teachers Australia Online (ETA) has an established network of schools, therefore your contact details and e-profile are sent to principals and daily organisers throughout the year. ETA also send out your details to schools advertising teaching vacancies in The Age, Saturday’s teacher employment supplement throughout the year. This saves time, effort and money for staff interested in teaching positions. ETA’s website includes a service video: www.EmergencyTeachers.com.au

The standout fact is that teachers who obtain CRT teaching jobs secure employment through direct contact by school management or recommendations from staff within the school.

Networking can be achieved by creating a variety of groups, even though teacher graduates may not be aware of principal class personnel in the early stages of their teaching career.

Here are a few tips to improve your scope of employment:

When socialising and meeting people for the very first time, especially in group situations, always keep in mind that the most valuable resource is increasing your network contact database. This simply means noting key management personnel at schools and mentioning names associated with the school environment. This can increase your job scope as teachers feel comfortable in recommending to management CRT teachers who are known to their circle of friends or colleagues. When you are engaging in discussions on a social basis, there is no harm in informing other teachers about your skills, experience or education. Likewise, you should also ask about their jobs. It is important you ask for contact details or invite them to be your friend on social networking sites. In this manner you can always keep in touch, especially in term four when schools seek staff for the New Year.

Graduate teachers are encouraged to network with tertiary staff after graduating in order to increase their contact personnel list. University staffs are responsible for visiting schools when assessing undergraduate teachers, therefore have extensive contacts with key personnel at schools.

During CRT working days graduates are advised to become familiar with teacher’s aides, counsellors, librarians and numerous staff worthy of adding to your list of networking professionals.

Going online and participating in discussions on professional social media sites also assists in gaining valuable contacts, apart from having your finger on the pulse by gaining first-hand information on recent developments occurring within the education sector and specifically within schools. It is highly recommended you keep in contact with teachers working within a school environment.

An essential component of the networking process is to inform friends, acquaintances and relatives that you are seeking work at particular schools, especially if their children attend the school you are interested in working at. Provide a resume and request that they forward the document to school management. By increasing your network circle, the greater possibility of obtaining a teaching job. ETA subscribers can inform school management to peruse their online comprehensive e-profile for easier access to resume information and contact details.

It is also recommended to continually update your resume. ETA subscribers have the advantage of accessing their online e-profile and modifying details 24/7. This means that all future employers can peruse the latest resume online. Employers can leave an online reference for future school principals and daily organisers. This is all part of the networking process.

Providing your e-profile to teaching staff is also a great idea. Forwarding an e-profile link is easier than forwarding pages of a resume. An e-profile has your photograph and all the essential information school management require.

Networking is an ongoing process. You must continually work in extending your contact list in order to increase your employment success rate. This is crucial especially since many schools employ on short term contract format. If you wish to be employed throughout the year you need to apply all your effort in the job application process and continually apply effort in maintaining your networking skills. ETA subscribers have a great reputation concerning professionalism due to the quality assurance process within the organisation. ETA is the only teacher referral company offering a networking e-profile direct contact job service. Teachers can subscribe at:

If you are serious about a career in teaching you must continue the network process and email your resume and contact details to school management throughout the year. Recruitment agencies do not guarantee work or contact schools and leave your contact details for school management to access in times of need. Principals and daily organisers contact CRT staff by perusing their e-profiles online and employ staff directly. If you cannot apply the time, effort and expenditure for the job application process you need ETA! It is that simple.